Dorchester County Public Schools -

During the 2024-2025 school year, DCPS leadership has been collaborating with Creative Leadership Solutions to enhance the capacity of building administrators and central office staff to provide instructional leadership across the district. Recently, Dr. Jymil Thompson, Superintendent of Schools, was invited to join the Fearless Schools Podcast. In this episode, Dr. Thompson joins Dr. Douglas Reeves to discuss Fearless Leadership. Their conversation covers topics such as integrity, courage, and confidence in leadership, the importance of admitting mistakes, and ethical approaches to new technologies like AI. https://bit.ly/42sGSjl

Congratulations to the DCPS's AVID Organization Contest Winners! Winners were selected at random from students who completed a quarter 3 goal-setting sheet and reflected on their progress. Keep setting and reaching high goals! 1st picture: Ms. Delashmutt & Anderson Vasquez @ NDMS (It was also his birthday when he got his prize.) 2nd picture: Ms. Brower & Jameerah Williams @ NDHS 3rd picture: Ms. Rank & Melanie Martinez @ CSD (student unavailable for picture)

April is nationally recognized as the Month of the Young Child. Dorchester County proudly hosts three Judy Center Early Learning Hubs, dedicated to equipping children from birth to age five for success in school and life by empowering their families as their first, most important, and lifelong teachers. Our centers emphasize school readiness through structured play, high-quality programs, and community partnerships, offering comprehensive support in child development and family engagement. Celebrating and involving families is central to our Judy Centers' mission in Dorchester County Public Schools

NOTICE OF MEETING Board of Education Budget Work Session DATE: Thursday, April 17, 2025 TIME: 5:00 p.m. PLACE: The Board Room Central Office of the Board of Education 700 Glasgow Street Cambridge, MD 21613 The Board of Education of Dorchester County will conduct a Budget Work Session at the date, time and location indicated above to address business as indicated on the agenda. The agenda and related documents can be accessed online via BoardDocs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. All Board of Education Meetings will be livestreamed: https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe

Over the weekend, students from across the Eastern Shore participated in the prestigious All-Shore Festival. To earn a place in this event, students had to audition, making attendance a significant honor. Representing their schools were students from Mace’s Lane Middle School, directed by Ms. Witcraft; North Dorchester Middle School, led by Mr. Bragg; and North Dorchester High School, under the direction of Mr. Bunting. The students collaborated with guest conductors and dedicated themselves to rigorous rehearsals on Friday and Saturday to prepare for an exceptional concert Saturday evening in Wicomico County. Congratulations to all Dorchester County students who participated!

Congratulations to our incredible educators and staff recognized at this year’s Awards Night Gala! Their dedication, passion, and commitment to student success make a lasting impact on our schools and community. Join us in celebrating their well-deserved achievements! • Community Connections Team Member of the Year, Ms. Tina Morris, Cambridge-South Dorchester High School • Impact Team Member of the Year, Ms. Victoria Bradley, Maple Elementary School • Leadership Team Member of the Year, Ms. Jessica Collins, Cambridge-South Dorchester High School • Service Above Self Team Member of the Year, Ms. Linda Barnes, North Dorchester Middle School • 2025-2026 Early Excellence Educator of the Year, Ms. Robin Dukes, Hurlock Elementary School • 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year, Ms. Tanya Travis, Choptank Elementary School #ExcellenceInEducation #ThankATeacher #Team15 #23NoMore

The excitement is building and tomorrow is the big night! We will announce the 2025-2026 winners for Teacher of the Year, Early Excellence Educator of the Year, Dorchester Educators Education Support Staff of the Year and our DCPS Team Member Awards. Stay tuned for the big reveal at the DCPS Awards Night Gala!

The Dorchester Educators Education Support Professional of the Year award recognizes the contribution of Education Support Professionals to their schools, communities, and profession. The award is presented to the member of Dorchester Educators who demonstrates outstanding accomplishments and reflects the contributions of ESP to public education. This award is presented by Dorchester Educators. The finalists for the prestigious award for school year 2024 – 2025 are: • Rashanda Davis, Student Support Monitor, Choptank Elementary School • Sandra Boyd, Instructional Assistant-Behavioral Specialist, Warwick Elementary School • Karen Hopkins, Attendance Secretary, Maple Elementary School The winner of the Dorchester Educators Education Support Professional of the Year will be named on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the DCPS Awards Night. Stay tuned to find out who this year’s winner will be!

2024-2025 Community School Coordinators’ Regional Champion Award Winner We are thrilled to celebrate Mrs. Nicole Higgins, the Community School Liaison at Maple Elementary School, for winning the 2024-2025 Community School Coordinators’ Regional Champion Award for the Eastern Shore! This award is given to just one Community School Liaison in each region — and Mrs. Higgins has truly earned this honor. Her genuine care for staff, students, and families is evident in every decision she makes, always prioritizing their best interests. Ms. Higgins is known for her unwavering commitment to going above and beyond, whether its ensuring students have access to essential resources like transportation, glasses, food, clothing, or even the ability to attend appointments. Her approach is hands-on, guiding families through every step rather than merely providing information. She actively supports school initiatives across academics, behavior, and social aspects, and plays a pivotal role in planning and leading events, particularly those aimed at improving attendance. Her efforts have led to noticeable improvements in attendance numbers this year. She is also proactive in checking in with teachers to ensure they have the necessary materials for their students. Her ability to connect the school with community partners and maintain strong partnerships is invaluable. Ms. Higgins' pleasant and positive demeanor makes her beloved by everyone, and she has earned the trust of both students and families. Through her tireless efforts, she has built strong relationships, fostered reciprocal connections, and demonstrated collaborative leadership, making a lasting and positive change in our school community. Community School Liaisons play a vital role across the state, and Mrs. Higgins exemplifies the heart and dedication behind this work. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition!

NOTICE OF BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING DATE: Thursday, March 27, 2025 TIME: 5:00 p.m. PLACE: The Board Room Central Office of the Board of Education 700 Glasgow Street Cambridge, MD 21613 The Board of Education of Dorchester County will conduct an Open Session at the date, time, and location indicated above to address business as indicated on the agenda. After the start of the Open session, the Board will meet in Closed in accordance with Section 3-305 of the General Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss personnel, mid-year evaluation framework, update on legal issues, discussion of possible land transfer, and coaching training. At the conclusion of the Closed Session, the Board will reconvene at 6:00 p.m. in the Open Regular Session. The agenda and related documents can be accessed online via BoardDocs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. Anyone who would like to submit public comments electronically, to be included in the minutes, can email comments@dcpsmd.org by 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. All Board of Education Meetings will be livestreamed: https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe

Today and Tomorrow CSDHS Viking Theater Sr Class Play is taking 1600 elementary students from across the county "Over The Rainbow". Showtimes are listed on the poster below & are available on the link & at the door! Bring your munchkins & those who are munchkins at heart! "We're Off To See The Wizard" & we would love for you to join us as we "Follow The Yellow Brick Road"! Order tickets: Friday, March 21st @ 7PM - https://gofan.co/event/3216017?schoolId=MD22640 Saturday, March 22nd @ 2PM - https://gofan.co/event/3216072?schoolId=MD22640 Saturday, March 22nd @ 7PM - https://gofan.co/event/3216089?schoolId=MD22640 Sunday, March 23rd @ 2PM - https://gofan.co/event/3216156?schoolId=MD22640

The DCPS Out of District application is now open for the 2025-2026 school year. This application is only good for the current school year and a new application must be submitted for approval each school year. For the 2025-2026 school year we are continuing the completely online application process. The link is also posted on the DCPS webpage For Parents. The application must be completed by April 30, 2025 for consideration. The only exceptions are for families that move after June 1, and/or Pre-K enrollment – that enrollment period for Out of District is from September 1 to September 13, 2025. Pre-K is not included in this process; enrollment for PreK will open in May as a separate link. Families with difficulty accessing the online link should contact your current school to schedule an appointment to assist. All applications will be processed through the Student Services office and families will receive notifications by June 30. As a reminder, no transportation is provided for out of district students. Students may only ride their assigned buses (home school) and parents are responsible for transportation for all out-of-district approved placements. To register for out-of-district, please use the link below. If you have questions, please call 410-901-6944. We look forward to a successful end of the 2025 school year and a fantastic 2025-2026 year! Link to register for out-of-district: https://form.jotform.com/250264273742152

🎶 Exciting Day at North Dorchester High School! 🎶 Today, we are thrilled to host the Eastern Shore Band Directors Association (ESBDA) Maryland District V Junior Band Festival! Middle school musicians from across the Eastern Shore of Maryland are here to showcase their talents and perform for our esteemed judges. A special shoutout to North Dorchester Middle School, led by Mr. Bragg, and Mace's Lane Middle School, under the direction of Ms. Witcraft. Both schools delivered performances and received valuable feedback from the judges. 🌟 We are proud to announce that NDMS achieved the highest rating in Sight Reading (Superior - I)! 🌟 Additionally, Mace's Lane made a triumphant return to the judged festival scene after several years! Congratulations to both schools for their hard work and dedication! 🎉👏 Let’s keep the music alive! #ESBDA #MusicEducation #ProudMoment #NDHS #BandFestival

Exciting Summer Opportunity for Rising 6-9th Graders! Dorchester County Public Schools in partnership with People for Change Coalition is offering the Summer Career Enrichment Program (SCEP)- a FREE hands-on experience designed to spark interest in high-demand career fields! Students will explore: • Animation • App Development/Gaming • Careers in Health Care • Chess • Cybersecurity • Drones • Media Arts • Presentation/Video Design • Robotics Location: Easton High School Transportation Available from NDHS & CSDHS Breakfast & Lunch Provided Two Sessions Available: Session 1: July 7-July 17, 2025 (Mon-Thurs, 9 -1 PM) Session 2: July 21-July 31, 2025 (Mon-Thurs, 9 -1 PM) Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to explore future careers in a fun and engaging environment! Visit https://pfccoalition.org/scep.asp for registration details!

NOTICE OF MEETING Board of Education Budget Work Session DATE: Thursday, March 20, 2025 TIME: 5:00 p.m. PLACE: The Board Room Central Office of the Board of Education 700 Glasgow Street Cambridge, MD 21613 The Board of Education of Dorchester County will conduct a Budget Work Session at the date, time and location indicated above to address business as indicated on the agenda. The agenda and related documents can be accessed online via BoardDocs on the Dorchester County Public Schools website at www.dcps.k12.md.us. All Board of Education Meetings will be livestreamed: https://townhallstreams.com/towns/dorchesterboe

🏀📣 March Math FACTS Madness is at WES! 📣🏀 Get ready for the ultimate showdown where numbers meet net shots! Our Huskies squared off against the scholars from North Dorchester and CSD High School basketball teams in a battle of math facts and fast breaks! Who dominated? The WES Huskies all-stars or the hoop heroes? Take a look at the epic buzzer-beaters, brain-teasing equations, and at least one confused player trying to “subtract” points from the scoreboard. The cheers, the laughs, and the math + basketball = absolute madness! Remember you miss 100% of the shots (and math questions) you don’t take!

Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification Meetings Dear Parent/Guardian/Community Member, Dorchester County Public Schools (DCPS) has initiated a process to modernize its elementary schools, and we need your input in the first step—the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. This document will identify what an ideal elementary school in Dorchester County should be: the types of instructional and support spaces it will contain, its educational philosophy, and its community features. It will be used to evaluate the older elementary schools in the system, leading to capital improvement projects that will support your children’s needs. You are invited to a listening session to learn about the process for developing the Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification. The first session will be held on March 11, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at North Dorchester High School in the auditorium, and the second session will be held on March 12, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM, at Dorchester Career & Technology Center in the Multi-Purpose Room. At these sessions, you will have the opportunity to provide input on the elementary schools. You do not need to attend both sessions as they will both cover the same information. Additional opportunities will be available later this spring to provide comments as the draft educational specification document is developed. The Districtwide Elementary School Prototype Educational Specification is the first step in providing modernized facilities for the elementary school students of Dorchester County. Your concerns and observations are crucial to the success of this process. We look forward to seeing you at one or both sessions. Sincerely, Dr. Jymil Thompson Superintendent of Schools

We wanted to share an update on the data breach suffered by the company PowerSchool, used by DCPS and many school systems throughout the state and the nation. What Happened? On December 28, 2024, PowerSchool became aware of a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized exfiltration of certain personal information from PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS) environments through one of our community-focused customer support portals, PowerSource. What Information Was Involved? Due to differences in customer requirements, the types of information involved in this incident included one or more of the following, which varied by person: name, contact information, date of birth, Social Security Number, limited medical alert information, and other related information. At this time, we do have evidence that the named individual’s Social Security Number was involved. At this time, we do not have evidence that limited medical alert information for the named individual was involved. What Is PowerSchool Doing? PowerSchool is coordinating with Experian and TransUnion to provide notice on behalf of our Dorchester County Public Schools to students (or their parents / guardians) and educators, as applicable, whose information was involved and for whom we had available contact information. PowerSchool is offering two years of complimentary identity protection services to students and educators whose information was involved. For adult students and educators whose information was involved, this offer will also include two years of complimentary credit monitoring services. If you reside in the U.S. and do not receive an email, you can find more information linked here: http://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/notice-of-united-states-data-breach/ What Can You Do? You are encouraged to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing account statements for suspicious activity. PowerSchool will never contact you by phone or email to request your personal or account information. The enclosed “General Information About Identity Theft Protection” provides further information about what steps you can take. Other Important Information If you have any questions or concerns about this notice, please call 833-918-9464, Monday through Friday, 8:00am through 8:00pm Central Time (excluding major US holidays).

In a recent visit to North Dorchester High School Dr. Paula Turner-Coleman had this to say about the teaching and learning taking place in Mrs. Kaylen Trice's science classroom. "If you want to learn about heredity in the most engaging way where small groups and student choice was at the heart of teaching and learning, please see Mrs. Trice at North Dorchester High School." Students created imaginative Monster Families to meet the day's learning targets.

Due to the anticipated weather conditions below we are dismissing students 2 hours early. All after-school activities will be cancelled as well.